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National Numismatic Collection

The National Numismatic Collection (NNC) of the Smithsonian Institution is one of the largest numismatic collections in the world and the largest in North America. With over 1.6 millioin objects, the NNC contains many great rarities in coins and currency, from the earliest coins created 2,700 years ago up to the latest innovations in electronic monetary exchange, as well as fascinating objects such as beads, wampum, dentalia, and other commodities once used as money.

The collection emphasizes the development of money and medals in the United States. The core of the U.S. collection, consisting of more than 18,000 items, including coins of great rarity, came to the Smithsonian in 1923 from the United States Mint. Exceptional rarities include the Brasher half doubloon, the 1849 double eagle (first of the gold 20 dollar pieces), and two 1877 fifty dollar patterns. Other rarities are include the 1913 Liberty head nickel as well as all three types of the 1804 dollar, and two of three known examples of the world's most valuable coin, the 1933 double eagle, the third of which recently sold for 7.6 million dollars. Learn more about the collection.

Below you will find a selection of over 350 objects from the collection. We are working to expand and improve online access to additional objects in the near future, so stay tuned.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination (TEN D.) U.S. Mint engraver Christian Gobrecht altered his Liberty head slightly in mid-1839. Previously, the Liberty's head had been tilted slightly forward. After that, the head was completely vertical: Liberty looks straight ahead rather than slightly down. Thus amended, the Gobrecht designs graced the eagle for the remainder of the 19th century and the first few years of the 20th. This single proof eagle is the only one known for the year 1840.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination (FIVE D.). Artist Christian Gobrecht redesigned the half eagle in 1839. His concepts were retained all the way down to 1908, with only minor changes. This is one of only two proofs known.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination (2 ½ D.). The quarter eagle carried the William Kneass designs a year longer than the half, but in 1840 a new Liberty head made its debut, another of Christian Gobrecht's concepts. It was tidy and serviceable, and it held the stage for nearly seventy years. A few proofs are also known from this first year of coining. This is one of three proofs that have been documented.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination. This coin is the sole known proof for this year in this denomination.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination. This coin is one of two proof half eagles known for 1841; a third has been reported but its existence remains unconfirmed.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination. Only proof quarter eagles were minted in 1841, and the coins have been recognized as rarities for nearly a century. This is one of eleven specimens that have been confirmed. Oddly enough, most entered circulation and only later were recognized as rarities.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination. Beyond this specimen, one other is rumored to exist, but that rumor remains unconfirmed.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination. This is one of three proofs known, two of them impaired. This Smithsonian specimen is the only 1842 proof quarter eagle in pristine condition.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty facing left, with coronet; stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, denomination. Three proof 1844 eagles, including this one, are recorded. One of the others is part of a set.